Living Our Best Lives

No Man Is an Island

No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, 

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend's

Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.

- John Donne

Live your best lives. How? With others. Research shows that happiness arises from those around us. 

1. Friendships matter. Cultivate them. Appreciate them. 

2. Nobody is happy all the time. That's okay. 

3. Be intentional. Be present when with others. 

4. Pay attention to little things. The crocuses are sprouting. 

5. Meditate to become more mindful of people and the world around us. 

Lagniappe. Don't let what we don't have interfere with allowing us to practice with what we do. 

Lagniappe 2. Recent research isn't the only approach. This summary from William Irvine's book about stoicism is another legit approach. "Want what you have."